Extensible device for gun case



Jam` 5, 1965 M. H. oLlNK EXTENSIBLE DEVICE FOR GUN CASE Filed May 28,1965 INVENTOR. l 0 Z/A/K Arranz m .mNlrHNl \\m\ ........::.......:LINI

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United States Patent Oh ice lhlg Patented Jan. 5., 1965 3,164,1ssEXTENSIBLE DEvrcE non GUN CASE.

Maurice H. GLiuk, St. Cloud, Minn., assigner to Stearns This inventionrelates to `an improvement in a gun case construction. More particularlythis invention relates to an improvementin the construction of anextensible gun case and also to an attachment converting a gun case of agiven length into an extensible gun case.

It is desirable to have a gun case adjustable in length to accommodateguns of various lengths. It is particularly desirable in the sale of guncases to have an extensible gun case whereby the seller is relieved ofthe necessity of carrying a large inventory comprising a multiplicity ofdifferent lengths of gun cases to accommodate his trade, but rather maycarry a much smaller fully adequate stock of gun cases without speciiicregard to the length of such gun cases. In the case of a user it is alsodesirable to have a gun case usable with guns of various lengths.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a device integralwith the muzzle end portion of a gun case for adjustable extensionthereof or to form an extensible attachment for a gun case.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extensible portionof a gun case which is both airtight and weathertight and which providesfor an infinite number of minute increments of extension resulting in aperfect length and a snug fit to correspond to any given gun lengthwithin a substantial range of lengths.

It is more specifically an object of this invention to provide asleeve-like member embracing the muzzle end portion of a gun case tobecome integral therewith and having in connection therewith a tubularmember adapted to be received therein for axialmovement relative theretoto receive the muzzle end portion of a gun barrel therein and an end capsealing the free endof said tubular member to cushion the end of saidgun barrel.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

. FIG. l is a View in side elevation of applicants invention inconnection with a gun case; and

FIG. 2 is a broken view in magnified horizontal section taken on line 22 of FIG. l as indicated.

Referring to the drawings, a gun case l of conventional design is showncomprising a body portion 12 which may be formed of any suitablematerial such as of a plastic or durable coarse fabric material suitablylined and having a zipper i4 which will extend substantially full lengthalong one edge portion thereof and about the butt end thereof to permitthe gun case to open up in a iiat condition. A strap handle 15 issecured to the other edge portion of said gun case. The muzzle endportion of said gun case is indicated by the character 17. Theparticular construction of the gun case above described of itself formsno part of the invention herein.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, applicants device indicatedgenerally by the character 19 is shown in section attached to said guncase 10 to form an integral part thereof. The muzzle end portion 17 ofsaid gun case will be formed as an open end portion, or in the eventthat the applicants device is applied as an attachment to a completelyfinished gun case the end cap thereof will be removed to provide an openend.

Applicants device comprises a sleeve 20 of relatively short length whichis preferably formed of a substantially rigid material such as of aplastic material. Said sleeve 20 has a rearwardly extending body portion22 of reduced outer diameter which will be offa diameter to -snugly twithin the open muzzle end 17 of said gun case. At the free end of saidreducedv body portion 22 there is formed an external annular rib 24 ofsuflicient prominence to cause a substantial bulge forming Yan annularrib 17a in said gun case, as indicated in FIG. 2. Y

At the pointof juncture between said reduced body portion 22 and theremaining portion of the sleeve 20 is formed a shoulder 25 and extendinginwardly of said shoulder axially of said sleeve is an annularopen-ended slot 26 of sufficient width to very nicely and snugly receivetherein the adjacent free end portion of the gun case 10. Said endportion preferably will be cemented within said slot for a sealedengagement. Clamping said sleeve and the end portion of said gun casetogether is an annular member 28 in the form of a at ring of suicientwidth -to take up the distance or the space between the shoulder 25 andthe bulge 17a in said gun case. Thus said ring 28 very nicely lockstogether said sleeve 20 and the reduced end portion of said gun case 10.Said ring may be variously formed and securing it in position asindicated is a known practice in the art requiring no explanation here.

Said sleeve 20 will have a bore of sutlicient diameter for the purposeshereinafter indicated and will be internally threaded as indicated bythe character 29 with said thread being relatively coarse. Arranged andconstructed to be threaded into said sleeve 20 is a tubular member 30having a thread 31 shown forming a convoluted wall construction. Thewidth of the pitch of the thread used in connection with the sleeve andsaid tubular member is a matter of design, and a coarser thread providesa faster axial adjustment in either lengthening or shortening a guncase. Said tubular member will nicely accommodate the muzzle of a gunwhether fully received within the gun case or extended therefrom andwill be formed of a sutliciently rigid material, kas of plastic,which'will be non-injurious to the gun muzzle.

An end cap member 35 is provided to seal the free end of the tubularmember 30. Said end cap may be variously formed and variously secured tosaid tubular member. It is here indicated having a central relativelythick resilient body portion l36 forming a cushion and having areversely curved sleeve-like portion 37 forming an annular slot havingdisposed and secured therein the upper portion-of a collar 38 Vhaving anextending thread portion threaded.- onto the free end of'said tubularmember 30. Said end cap may be cemented onto said tubular member as maybe desired.

Extending outwardly of said end cap is an apertured ear portion 40forming a hanger for said gun case.

It is quite obvious from the above description that the applicantsdevice may be formed integral with a gun case during the course of itsmanufacture or that a completed gun case, such as a used case, mayreadily be modified to have applicants device attached thereto and madean integral part thereof.

Operation In use, a gun case embodying the applicants extensible devicewill lbe opened or closed for the installation or removal of a gun in aconventional manner by opening or closing the case with the use of thezipper 14.

For any particular gun, once the applicants device has been properlyadjusted, no further adjustment will be required. However adjustment canreadily be made in adapting a gun case for use with guns of differentlengths. With the gun positioned in the gun case, the lmuzzle of the gunwill be received within the tubular member 30. By grasping the end cap35 in hand said tubular lmember 'is readily/rotated to -be threaded in-Wardiy or outwardly of said sleeve to position the end cap to restagainst the end of the muzzle of the gun to very nicely and snuglyretain the gun within the gun case. The entire construction of theapplicants device provides a fully sealed extension which retains themuzzle o the gun in a completely sealed condition.

Applicants extensible device has particular importance in the `sale ofagun case in enabling a dealer or retailer to carry a gun case of acommon length which in embodying the applicants device makes such a guncase readily adaptable to be used with guns of various lengths.

Thus the applicant has provided a very eicient and simply constructedextensible device for use in connec- -tion with a gun case yas anintegral portion thereof during the process of its manufacture or as anattachment readily attachable to a gun case to be made integraltherewith.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and dened inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An extensible attachment for a gun case having in combinatiom aninternally threaded sleeve, said sleeve having a portion of reducedouter diameter forming a shoulder with the remaining portion thereof,

an open-ended annular slot extending inwardly axially of said shoulder,

themuzzle end portion of a gun case embracing said reduced portion ofsaid sleeve and'extending into said annular slot, v

a locking ring encircling said end portion of said gun case and saidsleeve portion embraced thereby,

an elongated threaded tubular member receivable in said sleeve for axialmovement thereof, and

means sealing the free end of said tubular member.

2. An extensible device in connection with a gun case having incombination,

an internally threaded sleeve, said sleeve having a portion of reducedouter diameter forming a shoulder with a remaining portion of saidsleeve,

an vopen-ended annular slot extending vinwardly axially of saidshoulder, y

an annular rib formed aboutv the free end portion of said reducedportion of said sleeve,

the muzzle end portion of said gun case overlying said reduced portionof said sleeve and extending in- Wardly of said annular slot, saidannular ribabout said reduced portion of said sleeve forming an annularbulge about said overlying portion of said `gun case,

a locking ring about said gun case disposed between said annular bulgeand said shoulder for locking engagement between said end portion ofsaid gun case and said reduced portion of said sleeve,

an elongated tubular member threaded within said sleeve for axialmovement thereof, and

means sealing the free end of said tubular member.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2,

said means comprising an end cap and an apertured radial projection fromsaid end cap forming a hanger.

4. An extensible device in connection with a gun case having incombination,

a gun case,

a threaded sleeve embraced by the muzzle end portion of said gun case,

means locking the engagement of said portion of said gun case and'saidsleeve,

a threaded elongated member having a bore therein to accommodate themuzzle of a gun receivable within said sleeve, and

said elongated member being threaded within said sleeve for an intinitenumber of positions axially of said sleeve.

5. An extensible device in connection with a gun case having incombination,

a gun case,

a sleeve embraced by the muzzle end portion of said gun case,

means encircling said portion of said gun case embracing said sleeve forlocking engagement therebetween,

an elongated tubular member of a size to accommodate the muzzle of aygun therein threaded into said sleeve, and

means sealing the free end of said tubular member.

6. The structure set forth in claim S,

said sleeve having a rib thereabout bulging the portion of said gun casethereabout, and

a shoulder about said sleeve spaced from said rib having an open-endedannular slot extending axially thereof, and said slot receiving thereinan end portion of said gun case.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 290,205 12/83Bromson 224-15 2,524,931 10/50 Schoellkopf, et al. 150-52 2,901,018 8/59Kolpin 150-52 2,919,017 12/59 Weber 206-1 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN EXTENSIBLE ATTACHMENT FOR A GUN CASE HAVING IN COMBINATION, ANINTERNALLY THREADED SLEEVE, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A PORTION OF REDUCEDOUTER DIAMETER FORMING A SHOULDER WITH THE REMAINING PORTION THEREOF, ANOPEN-ENDED ANNULAR SLOT EXTENDING INWARDLY AXIALLY OF SAID SHOULDER, THEMUZZLE END PORTION OF A GUN CASE EMBRACING SAID REDUCED PORTION OF SAIDSLEEVE AND EXTENDING INTO SAID ANNULAR SLOT, A LOCKING RING ENCIRCLINGSAID END PORTION OF SAID GUN CASE AND SAID SLEEVE PORTION EMBRACEDTHEREBY, AN ELONGATED THREADED TUBULAR MEMBER RECEIVABLE IN SAID SLEEVEFOR AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND MEANS SEALING THE FREE END OF SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER.